When it comes to culture and creativity, ‘Made in EU’ is a mark of supreme quality. European creators and their business partners are global leaders in their fields and their creative works and services are loved the world over. More than that, their unique cultural and linguistic diversity is at the centre of our collective European identity and the EU’s global competitive edge.

… and drive Europe’s digital economy
Europe’s cultural and creative sectors are already digital: we are champions of emerging technologies that drive change and create flexible online solutions
offering an ever-increasing variety of content and services to consumers. Technology and creativity go hand in hand: Europe must promote and protect the creative sectors to drive innovation and stimulate the digital economy.

We are innovators
Copyright Works! Creators and their business partners are producing ever more content because they know that the time and money they invest in developing,
producing and distributing creative works stand a chance of recoupment and reward: today we can enjoy over 2 million e-book titles, over 37m licensed songs, and over 3,000 Video-on-Demand (VOD) services are on offer in Europe. The video games industry alone approaches a value of €50 billion worldwide.

However, the digital economy needs more than just a strong copyright regime. A robust internet infrastructure and a secure environment for e-commerce are
crucial for consumers to enjoy cutting-edge online services. EU policy makers must ensure that everyone in Europe has access to high-speed, low latency internet and reliable, secure micro-payment facilities to benefit from the many creative works and offers online.

We are investors and risk-takers
In the EU28 with 24 national languages, many creative works need to be edited, curated, adapted and promoted separately for each cultural market. This process requires substantial investment and cultural adaptation.

Investing in creative projects always involves a degree of financial risk-taking: we rely on legal certainty to incentivise and underpin our investments in emerging talent and diverse creative works, promoted and distributed through consumer-friendly platforms and services. Danish independent film producer Lise Lense-Møller told CW! that “there is a delicate balance between creativity and finance. You need the financing to make creative works”.

We rely on strong and flexible copyright
Copyright is constantly evolving thanks to its inherent flexibility; legislative measures such as the 2012 Orphan Works and the 2014 Collective Rights Management Directives and market innovations attest to that. A solid copyright framework allows creators and businesses to thrive in the digital marketplace, develop new works and services, and invest in future generations of inspirational, challenging and entertaining talent.

We are Europe’s economic and creative future
Copyright supports not only well-known and established creators and businesses but also emerging and lesser known authors, creators, entrepreneurs and culture enthusiasts working as part of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. “Scouting for the best authors and launching them has become our main pride,” Italian publisher Mauri Spagnol’s Stefano Mauri told CW!, adding that “Success produces a virtuous cycle enabling us to invest in new talents and
marketing them”. Millions of creative workers across the EU – screenwriters, directors, technicians, writers, publishers, exhibitors, entrepreneurs or producers, to name just a few – are behind the films, music, photographs, video games, TV programmes and books we all enjoy. Strong copyright ensures that they can keep doing what they do best.

Creativity Works!

A message from Creativity Works! ­– an alliance of leading organisations from the European cultural and creative sectors